The UN secretary-general has condemned the killing of 12 civilians, mostly children and adolescents, in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, expressing deep condolences to the families of those killed and wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured.
“Civilians, especially children, must not continue to bear the burden of the horrific violence that plagues the region,” Guterres said in a memo released Sunday.
The Secretary-General called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, adding that he reiterated his consistent call on all involved to avoid further escalation.
“The firefight across the Blue Line must cease immediately. All parties must comply with their obligations under international law,” the memo said, adding that the parties should urgently recommit to the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and immediately return to the cessation of hostilities.
(Adopted by the Security Council in 2006, Resolution 1701 It aimed to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah that year. It called for an end to hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, and the establishment of a demilitarized zone.)
Also responding to the “disgusting rocket attacks,” the UN’s top Middle East envoy, Tor Wensland, warned on Saturday X: The area is in crisis.; “The world and the region cannot afford another open conflict. I urge everyone to exercise utmost restraint. Rocket launches across the Blue Line must stop immediately.”
In a joint statement released on Saturday, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) also condemned the attack.
“We deplore the deaths of civilians, children and adolescents in Majdal Shams. Civilians must always be protected,” said Special Envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro, respectively.
The two officials urged the parties to exercise maximum restraint and cease the ongoing fierce firefight, saying this could “cause even larger fires that could engulf the entire region in an unbelievable disaster.”
